About
535A Bond offers a collection of elevated, gender-neutral footwear featuring an inclusive range of sizes that seamlessly blend aesthetics, functionality, and modern design. Each piece is meticulously crafted with premium materials to prioritize both style and comfort, ensuring all-day wearability without compromise. We create footwear that celebrates diversity and inclusivity.
Inspired by the marriage of cultures within the African diaspora and our founder's personal journey through love, loss, and grief, these timeless pieces exist as footwear as art with sculptural heels and thoughtfully-designed uppers serving as the canvas for storytelling.
'Our footwear reflects a deep commitment to inclusivity and representation. Our mission is to empower every wearer, making them feel seen, heard, and unforgettable.'
- Tovah Robinson, Founder and Creative Director
The Founder
Former nursing student turned veteran footwear designer. Tovah Robinson has made it her mission to use her expertise to support those who are traditionally underserved in the fashion industry.
During her tenure at Camuto Group, she served as Design Director of contemporary and runway footwear. She went on to found Studio Tovah, a multidisciplinary design consulting company that has helped fashion labels build and launch their own footwear collections.
Throughout her career she’s worked with brands like Pyer Moss, Bcbgmaxazria, Herve Leger, Vince Camuto, and Dolce Vita. Her designs have been seen on the sidewalks, down the aisle, on the red carpet, at the Met Gala, and on NYFW and Couture runways.
Drawing from her experience as a black woman in an industry where diversity and inclusivity are scarce, the racial reckoning of recent years, navigating a pandemic as a new mother of two, and the loss of a close family member; Tovah was inspired to launch 535A Bond as a means of therapy through art and vehicle of inspiration and opportunity for other black and brown creatives.
The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Tovah's designs are known for their dynamic interplay between natural and industrial elements, architectural forms, and cultural influences, embodying a unique balance of shape and space.
